English subtitles for clip: File:6-23-09- White House Press Briefing with President Obama.webm

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The President:
Good afternoon, everybody.

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Today, I want to start by
addressing three issues, and

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then I'll take your questions.

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First, I'd like to say
a few words about the

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situation in Iran.

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The United States and the
international community have

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been appalled and outraged by
the threats, the beatings, and

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imprisonments of
the last few days.

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I strongly condemn these unjust
actions, and I join with the

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American people in mourning
each and every innocent

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life that is lost.

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I've made it clear that the
United States respects the

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sovereignty of the Islamic
Republic of Iran, and is not

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interfering with Iran's affairs.

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But we must also bear witness to
the courage and the dignity of

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the Iranian people, and to
a remarkable opening

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within Iranian society.

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And we deplore the violence
against innocent civilians

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anywhere that it takes place.

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The Iranian people are
trying to have a debate

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about their future.

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Some in Iran -- some in
the Iranian government, in

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particular, are trying to avoid
that debate by accusing the

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United States and others in the
West of instigating protests

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over the election.

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These accusations
are patently false.

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They're an obvious attempt to
distract people from what is

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truly taking place
within Iran's borders.

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This tired strategy of using
old tensions to scapegoat other

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countries won't work
anymore in Iran.

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This is not about the United
States or the West; this is

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about the people of Iran, and
the future that they --

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and only they -- will choose.

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The Iranian people can
speak for themselves.

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That's precisely what's
happened in the last few days.

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In 2009, no iron fist is strong
enough to shut off the world

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from bearing witness to peaceful
protests of justice.

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Despite the Iranian government's
efforts to expel journalists and

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isolate itself, powerful images
and poignant words have made

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their way to us through cell
phones and computers, and so

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we've watched what the
Iranian people are doing.

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This is what we've witnessed.

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We've seen the timeless dignity
of tens of thousands of Iranians

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marching in silence.

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We've seen people of all ages
risk everything to insist that

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their votes are counted and
that their voices are heard.

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Above all, we've seen courageous
women stand up to the brutality

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and threats, and we've
experienced the searing image of

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a woman bleeding to
death on the streets.

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While this loss is raw and
extraordinarily painful, we also

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know this: Those who stand up
for justice are always on the

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right side of history.

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As I said in Cairo, suppressing
ideas never succeeds in making

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them go away.

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The Iranian people have a
universal right to assembly

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and free speech.

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If the Iranian government seeks
the respect of the international

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community, it must respect
those rights and heed the will

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of its own people.

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It must govern through
consent and not coercion.

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That's what Iran's own people
are calling for, and the Iranian

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people will ultimately judge the
actions of their own government.

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Now, the second issue I want to
address is our ongoing effort to

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build a clean energy economy.

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This week, the House of
Representatives is moving ahead

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on historic legislation that
will transform the way we

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produce and use
energy in America.

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This legislation will spark a
clean energy transformation that

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will reduce our dependence on
foreign oil and confront the

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carbon pollution that
threatens our planet.

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This energy bill will create a
set of incentives that will spur

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the development of new sources
of energy, including wind,

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solar, and geothermal power.

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It will also spur new energy
savings, like efficient windows

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and other materials that reduce
heating costs in the winter and

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cooling costs in the summer.

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These incentives will finally
make clean energy the profitable

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kind of energy.

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And that will lead to the
development of new technologies

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that lead to new industries that
could create millions of new

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jobs in America -- jobs that
can't be shipped overseas.

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At a time of great fiscal
challenges, this legislation is

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paid for by the polluters who
currently emit the dangerous

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carbon emissions that
contaminate the water we drink

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and pollute the air
that we breathe.

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It also provides assistance to
businesses and communities as

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they make the gradual transition
to clean energy technologies.

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So I believe that this
legislation is extraordinarily

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important for our country; it's
taken great effort on the part

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of many over the course of
the past several months.

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And I want to thank the Chair
of the Energy and Commerce

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Committee, Henry Waxman; his
colleagues on that committee,

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including Congressmen Dingell,
Ed Markey, and Rick Boucher.

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I also want to thank Charlie
Rangel, the Chair of the Ways

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and Means Committee, and Collin
Peterson, the Chair of the

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Agriculture Committee, for their
many and ongoing contributions

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to this process.

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And I want to express my
appreciation to Nancy Pelosi and

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Steny Hoyer for
their leadership.

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We all know why this
is so important.

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The nation that leads in the
creation of a clean energy

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economy will be the nation
that leads the 21st

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century's global economy.

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That's what this legislation
seeks to achieve -- it's a bill

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that will open the door to a
better future for this nation.

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And that's why I urge members
of Congress to come

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together and pass it.

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The last issue I'd like to
address is health care.

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Right now, Congress is
debating various health

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care reform proposals.

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This is obviously a complicated
issue, but I am very optimistic

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about the progress
that they're making.

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Like energy, this is legislation
that must and will be paid for.

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It will not add to our
deficits over the next decade.

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We will find the money through
savings and efficiencies within

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the health care system --
some of which

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we've already announced.

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We will also ensure that the
reform we pass brings down the

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crushing cost of health care.

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We simply can't have a system
where we throw good money

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after bad habits.

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We need to control the
skyrocketing costs that are

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driving families, businesses,
and our government into greater

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and greater debt.

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There's no doubt that we must
preserve what's best about our

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health care system, and that
means allowing Americans who

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like their doctors and their
health care plans to keep them.

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But unless we fix what's
broken in our current system,

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everyone's health care
will be in jeopardy.

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Unless we act, premiums will
climb higher, benefits will

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erode further, and the rolls
of the uninsured will swell to

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include millions more Americans.

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Unless we act, one out of every
five dollars that we earn will

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be spent on health
care within a decade.

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And the amount our government
spends on Medicare and Medicaid

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will eventually grow larger than
what our government spends on

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everything else today.

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When it comes to health care,
the status quo is

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unsustainable and unacceptable.

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So reform is not a
luxury, it's a necessity.

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And I hope that Congress will
continue to make significant

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progress on this issue
in the weeks ahead.

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So let me open it up for
questions, and I'll start

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with you, Jennifer.

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The Press:
Thank you, Mr. President.

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Your administration has said
that the offer to talk to Iran's

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leaders remains open.

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Can you say if that's still so,
even with all the violence that

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has been committed by the
government against

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the peaceful protesters?

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And if it is, is there any red
line that your administration

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won't cross where that
offer will be shut off?

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The President:
Well, obviously
what's happened in

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Iran is profound.

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And we're still waiting to
see how it plays itself out.

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My position coming into this
office has been that the

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United States has core national
security interests in making

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sure that Iran doesn't possess
a nuclear weapon and it stops

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exporting terrorism
outside of its borders.

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We have provided a path whereby
Iran can reach out to the

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international community,
engage, and become a part

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of international norms.

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It is up to them to make a
decision as to whether they

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choose that path.

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What we've been seeing over the
last several days, the last

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couple of weeks, obviously is
not encouraging, in terms of the

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path that this regime
may choose to take.

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And the fact that they are now
in the midst of an extraordinary

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debate taking place in Iran may
end up coloring how they respond

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to the international
community as a whole.

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We are going to monitor and see
how this plays itself out before

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we make any judgments
about how we proceed.

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But just to reiterate, there
is a path available to Iran in

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which their sovereignty is
respected, their traditions,

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their culture, their faith is
respected, but one in which they

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are part of a larger community
that has responsibilities and

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operates according to norms and
international rules

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that are universal.

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We don't know how they're going
to respond yet, and that's what

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we're waiting to see.

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The Press:
So should there be
consequences for what's

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happened so far?

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The President:
I think that the
international community is, as I

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said before, bearing witness
to what's taking place.

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And the Iranian government
should understand that how they

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handle the dissent within
their own country, generated

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indigenously, internally, from
the Iranian people, will help

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shape the tone not only for
Iran's future but also its

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relationship to other countries.

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Since we're on Iran, I know
Nico Pitney is here

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from Huffington Post.

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The Press:
Thank you, Mr. President.

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The President:
Nico, I know
that you, and all across the

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Internet, we've been seeing a
lot of reports coming directly

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out of Iran.

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I know that there may actually
be questions from people in Iran

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who are communicating
through the Internet.

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Do you have a question?

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The Press:
Yes, I did, I wanted
to use this opportunity to ask

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you a question directly
from an Iranian.

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We solicited questions last
night from people who are still

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courageous enough to be
communicating online, and one of

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them wanted to ask you this:
Under which conditions would you

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accept the election
of Ahmadinejad?

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And if you do accept it without
any significant changes in the

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conditions there, isn't
that a betrayal of what the

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demonstrators there
are working towards?

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The President:
Well, look, we
didn't have international

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observers on the ground.

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We can't say definitively what
exactly happened at polling

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places throughout the country.

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What we know is that a sizeable
percentage of the Iranian people

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themselves, spanning
Iranian society, consider

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this election illegitimate.

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It's not an isolated instance
-- a little grumbling

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here or there.

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There is significant questions
about the legitimacy

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of the election.

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And so ultimately the most
important thing for the Iranian

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government to consider is
legitimacy in the eyes of its

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own people, not in the
eyes of the United States.

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And that's why I've been very
clear: Ultimately, this is up to

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the Iranian people to decide who
their leadership is going to be

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and the structure
of their government.

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What we can do is to say
unequivocally that there are

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sets of international norms and
principles about violence,

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about dealing with
peaceful dissent,

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that spans cultures,
spans borders.

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And what we've been seeing over
the Internet and what we've been

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seeing in news reports
violates those norms and

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violates those principles.

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I think it is not too late
for the Iranian government to

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recognize that there is a
peaceful path that will lead to

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stability and legitimacy
and prosperity

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for the Iranian people.

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We hope they take it.
Jeff Mason of Reuters.

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The Press:
Right here, sir.

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Switching gears slightly,
in light of the financial

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regulation and reform that you
have made, how do you rate the

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performance of the Fed in
handling the financial crisis?

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And more specifically, how do
you rate the performance of

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00:13:00,567 --> 00:13:03,437
Ben Bernanke, and would you like 
him to stay on when his term

243
00:13:03,433 --> 00:13:04,803
ends in January?

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00:13:04,800 --> 00:13:06,800
The President:
I'm not going to
make news about Ben Bernanke --

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00:13:06,800 --> 00:13:08,400
(laughter)

246
00:13:08,400 --> 00:13:11,030
-- although I think
he has done a fine job under

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00:13:11,033 --> 00:13:14,803
very difficult circumstances.

248
00:13:14,800 --> 00:13:23,030
I would say that all financial
regulators didn't do everything

249
00:13:23,033 --> 00:13:24,103
that needed to be done to
prevent the

250
00:13:24,100 --> 00:13:26,130
crisis from happening.

251
00:13:26,133 --> 00:13:31,603
And that's why we've put forward
the boldest set of reforms in

252
00:13:31,600 --> 00:13:37,200
financial regulation in 75
years, because there were too

253
00:13:37,200 --> 00:13:40,630
many gaps where there were laws
on the books that would have

254
00:13:40,633 --> 00:13:49,633
brought about a prevention
of the crisis;

255
00:13:49,633 --> 00:13:52,403
the enforcement wasn't there.

256
00:13:52,400 --> 00:13:54,830
In some cases, there just
weren't sufficient laws on the

257
00:13:54,834 --> 00:13:58,634
books -- for example, with
the non-banking sector.

258
00:13:58,633 --> 00:14:04,033
I think that the Fed probably
performed better than most other

259
00:14:04,033 --> 00:14:08,703
regulators prior to the crisis
taking place, but I think they'd

260
00:14:08,700 --> 00:14:12,470
be the first to acknowledge that
in dealing with systemic risk

261
00:14:12,467 --> 00:14:16,367
and anticipating systemic risk,
they didn't do everything that

262
00:14:16,367 --> 00:14:17,597
needed to be done.

263
00:14:17,600 --> 00:14:23,170
I think since the crisis has
occurred, Ben Bernanke has

264
00:14:23,166 --> 00:14:25,666
performed very well.

265
00:14:25,667 --> 00:14:31,597
And one of the central concepts
behind our financial regulatory

266
00:14:31,600 --> 00:14:36,800
reform is that there's got to be
somebody who is responsible not

267
00:14:36,800 --> 00:14:40,600
just for monitoring the health
of individual institutions, but

268
00:14:40,600 --> 00:14:43,570
somebody who's monitoring the
systemic risks of the

269
00:14:43,567 --> 00:14:45,437
system as a whole.

270
00:14:45,433 --> 00:14:50,033
And we believe that the Fed has
the most technical expertise and

271
00:14:50,033 --> 00:14:53,503
the best track record
in terms of doing that.

272
00:14:53,500 --> 00:14:56,570
But that's not the only part
of financial regulation.

273
00:14:56,567 --> 00:14:58,637
One of the things that we're
putting a huge amount of

274
00:14:58,633 --> 00:15:03,433
emphasis on is the issue of
consumer protection -- whether

275
00:15:03,433 --> 00:15:07,103
it's subprime loans that were
given out because nobody was

276
00:15:07,100 --> 00:15:11,330
paying attention to what was
being peddled to consumers,

277
00:15:11,333 --> 00:15:14,563
whether it's how credit cards
are handled, how annuities are

278
00:15:14,567 --> 00:15:17,197
dealt with, what people
can expect in terms of

279
00:15:17,200 --> 00:15:19,230
understanding their 401(k)s.

280
00:15:19,233 --> 00:15:23,863
There's a whole bunch of
financial transactions out there

281
00:15:23,867 --> 00:15:25,867
where consumers are not
protected the way they should,

282
00:15:25,867 --> 00:15:29,397
and that's why we said we're
going to put forward a consumer

283
00:15:29,400 --> 00:15:33,870
financial protection agency
whose only job it is to focus

284
00:15:33,867 --> 00:15:34,797
on those issues.

285
00:15:34,800 --> 00:15:39,230
Now, the Fed was one of the
regulators that had some of

286
00:15:39,233 --> 00:15:42,463
those consumer responsibilities.

287
00:15:42,467 --> 00:15:46,367
We actually think that they're
better off focusing on issues of

288
00:15:46,367 --> 00:15:52,067
broad systemic risk, and we have
just one agency that's focused

289
00:15:52,066 --> 00:15:54,496
on the consumer protection side.

290
00:15:54,500 --> 00:15:58,400
The Press:
But is the Fed
getting too powerful?

291
00:15:58,400 --> 00:16:03,670
The President:
If you look at
what we've proposed, we are not

292
00:16:03,667 --> 00:16:08,537
so much expanding the Fed's
power as we are focusing what

293
00:16:08,533 --> 00:16:11,663
the Fed needs to do to prevent
the kinds of crises

294
00:16:11,667 --> 00:16:13,067
that are happening again.

295
00:16:13,066 --> 00:16:16,266
Another good example is the
issue of resolution authority.

296
00:16:16,266 --> 00:16:21,696
I think it wasn't that long ago
where everybody was properly

297
00:16:21,700 --> 00:16:26,170
outraged about AIG, and the
enormous amounts of money the

298
00:16:26,166 --> 00:16:30,596
taxpayers had to put into AIG
in order to prevent it from

299
00:16:30,600 --> 00:16:33,470
dragging the entire financial
system down with it.

300
00:16:33,467 --> 00:16:36,597
Had we had the kinds of
resolution authority, the kinds

301
00:16:36,600 --> 00:16:42,700
of laws that were in place that
would allow a orderly winding

302
00:16:42,700 --> 00:16:47,730
down of AIG, then potentially
taxpayers could have saved a

303
00:16:47,734 --> 00:16:49,004
huge amount of money.

304
00:16:49,000 --> 00:16:52,670
We want that power to be
available so that taxpayers

305
00:16:52,667 --> 00:16:54,167
aren't on the hook.

306
00:16:54,166 --> 00:16:57,566
All right? Major Garrett. Where's Major?

307
00:16:57,567 --> 00:16:59,367
The Press:
Right here, sir.

308
00:16:59,367 --> 00:17:04,097
In your opening remarks, sir,
you were -- you said about Iran

309
00:17:04,100 --> 00:17:07,870
that you were
appalled and outraged.

310
00:17:07,867 --> 00:17:11,237
What took you so long
to say those words?

311
00:17:11,233 --> 00:17:13,403
The President:
I don't
think that's accurate.

312
00:17:13,400 --> 00:17:17,200
Track what I've been saying.

313
00:17:17,200 --> 00:17:22,970
Right after the election, I said
that we had profound concerns

314
00:17:22,967 --> 00:17:25,467
about the nature of the
election, but that it was not up

315
00:17:25,467 --> 00:17:30,067
to us to determine
what the outcome was.

316
00:17:30,066 --> 00:17:33,266
As soon as violence broke out
-- in fact, in anticipation of

317
00:17:33,266 --> 00:17:36,466
potential violence -- we were
very clear in saying that

318
00:17:36,467 --> 00:17:39,837
violence was unacceptable, that
that was not how governments

319
00:17:39,834 --> 00:17:42,334
operate with respect
to their people.

320
00:17:42,333 --> 00:17:44,903
So we've been entirely
consistent, Major, in terms of

321
00:17:44,900 --> 00:17:47,300
how we've approached this.

322
00:17:47,300 --> 00:17:50,570
My role has been to say the
United States is not going to be

323
00:17:50,567 --> 00:17:54,867
a foil for the Iranian
government to try to blame

324
00:17:54,867 --> 00:18:00,097
what's happening on the streets
of Tehran on the CIA or on the

325
00:18:00,100 --> 00:18:04,800
White House; that this is an
issue that is led by and given

326
00:18:04,800 --> 00:18:10,670
voice to the frustrations
of the Iranian people.

327
00:18:10,667 --> 00:18:14,267
And so we've been very
consistent the first day, and

328
00:18:14,266 --> 00:18:17,266
we're going to continue to be
consistent in saying this is not

329
00:18:17,266 --> 00:18:20,196
an issue about the United
States; this is about an issue

330
00:18:20,200 --> 00:18:21,300
of the Iranian people.

331
00:18:21,300 --> 00:18:24,970
What we've also been consistent
about is saying that there are

332
00:18:24,967 --> 00:18:28,237
some universal principles,
including freedom of assembly

333
00:18:28,233 --> 00:18:31,863
and freedom of speech, making
sure that governments are not

334
00:18:31,867 --> 00:18:36,067
using coercion and violence and
repression in terms of how they

335
00:18:36,066 --> 00:18:38,336
interact with peaceful
demonstrators.

336
00:18:38,333 --> 00:18:42,563
And we have been speaking out
very clearly about that fact.

337
00:18:42,567 --> 00:18:45,067
The Press:
Are Iranian diplomats
still welcome at the embassy on

338
00:18:45,066 --> 00:18:47,536
the Fourth of July, sir?

339
00:18:47,533 --> 00:18:52,133
The President:
Well, I think as
you're aware, Major, we don't

340
00:18:52,133 --> 00:18:56,233
have formal diplomatic relations
with -- we don't have formal

341
00:18:56,233 --> 00:18:58,433
diplomatic relations with Iran.

342
00:18:58,433 --> 00:19:04,933
I think that we have said that
if Iran chooses a path that

343
00:19:04,934 --> 00:19:09,904
abides by international norms
and principles, then we are

344
00:19:09,900 --> 00:19:18,500
interested in healing some of
the wounds of 30 years, in terms

345
00:19:18,500 --> 00:19:21,700
of U. S.-Iranian relations.

346
00:19:21,700 --> 00:19:23,570
But that is a choice
that the Iranians are

347
00:19:23,567 --> 00:19:24,437
going to have to make.

348
00:19:24,433 --> 00:19:25,933
The Press:
But the offer still stands?

349
00:19:25,934 --> 00:19:26,934
The President:
That's a choice
the Iranians are

350
00:19:26,934 --> 00:19:28,234
going to have to make.

351
00:19:28,233 --> 00:19:29,633
David Jackson.

352
00:19:29,633 --> 00:19:31,003
The Press:
Thank you, Mr. President.

353
00:19:31,000 --> 00:19:33,070
Two of the key players in the
insurance industry, America's

354
00:19:33,066 --> 00:19:36,336
Health Insurance Plans and Blue
Cross-Blue Shield, sent a letter

355
00:19:36,333 --> 00:19:38,833
to the Senate this morning
saying that a government health

356
00:19:38,834 --> 00:19:42,664
insurance plan would
"dismantle" private insurers.

357
00:19:42,667 --> 00:19:43,367
Why are they wrong?

358
00:19:43,367 --> 00:19:46,097
And secondly, this public
plan, is this non-negotiable?

359
00:19:46,100 --> 00:19:47,870
Would you sign a health
care bill without it?

360
00:19:47,867 --> 00:19:50,267
The President:
Well, let's talk
first of all about health care

361
00:19:50,266 --> 00:19:54,936
reform more broadly.

362
00:19:54,934 --> 00:20:02,364
I think in this debate there's
been some notion that if we just

363
00:20:02,367 --> 00:20:05,637
stand pat we're okay.

364
00:20:05,633 --> 00:20:08,763
And that's just not true.

365
00:20:08,767 --> 00:20:10,867
You know, there are polls out
that show that 70 or 80 percent

366
00:20:10,867 --> 00:20:14,137
of Americans are satisfied
with the health insurance

367
00:20:14,133 --> 00:20:16,733
that they currently have.

368
00:20:16,734 --> 00:20:19,304
The only problem is that
premiums have been doubling

369
00:20:19,300 --> 00:20:25,130
every nine years, going up
three times faster than wages.

370
00:20:25,133 --> 00:20:26,263
The U.S. government

371
00:20:26,266 --> 00:20:29,436
is not going to be able 
to afford Medicare and

372
00:20:29,433 --> 00:20:33,103
Medicaid on its
current trajectory.

373
00:20:33,100 --> 00:20:35,670
Businesses are having to make
very tough decisions about

374
00:20:35,667 --> 00:20:39,367
whether we drop coverage or
we further restrict coverage.

375
00:20:39,367 --> 00:20:43,197
So the notion that somehow we
can just keep on doing what

376
00:20:43,200 --> 00:20:48,470
we're doing and that's
okay, that's just not true.

377
00:20:48,467 --> 00:20:54,297
We have a longstanding critical
problem in our health care

378
00:20:54,300 --> 00:20:58,930
system that is pulling down
our economy, it's burdening

379
00:20:58,934 --> 00:21:01,564
families, it's burdening
businesses, and it is the

380
00:21:01,567 --> 00:21:04,167
primary driver of
our federal deficits.

381
00:21:04,166 --> 00:21:05,066
All right?

382
00:21:05,066 --> 00:21:08,336
So if we start from the
premise that the status quo is

383
00:21:08,333 --> 00:21:11,003
unacceptable, then that means
we're going to have to bring

384
00:21:11,000 --> 00:21:13,230
about some serious changes.

385
00:21:13,233 --> 00:21:15,563
What I've said is, our top
priority has to

386
00:21:15,567 --> 00:21:17,767
be to control costs.

387
00:21:17,767 --> 00:21:21,297
And that means not just
tinkering around the edges.

388
00:21:21,300 --> 00:21:25,730
It doesn't mean just lopping off
reimbursements for doctors in

389
00:21:25,734 --> 00:21:29,134
any given year because we're
trying to fix our budget.

390
00:21:29,133 --> 00:21:34,803
It means that we look at the
kinds of incentives that exist,

391
00:21:34,800 --> 00:21:39,530
what our delivery system is
like, why it is that some

392
00:21:39,533 --> 00:21:42,863
communities are spending
30 percent less than other

393
00:21:42,867 --> 00:21:45,697
communities but getting better
health care outcomes, and

394
00:21:45,700 --> 00:21:48,430
figuring out how can we
make sure that everybody is

395
00:21:48,433 --> 00:21:51,963
benefiting from lower costs
and better quality

396
00:21:51,967 --> 00:21:54,137
by improving practices.

397
00:21:54,133 --> 00:21:56,833
It means health IT.
It means prevention.

398
00:21:56,834 --> 00:22:00,864
So all these things are the
starting point,

399
00:22:00,867 --> 00:22:02,197
I think, for reform.

400
00:22:02,200 --> 00:22:07,230
And I've said very clearly: If
any bill arrives from Congress

401
00:22:07,233 --> 00:22:11,063
that is not controlling costs,
that's not a bill I can support.

402
00:22:11,066 --> 00:22:12,266
It's going to have
to control costs.

403
00:22:12,266 --> 00:22:14,436
It's going to have
to be paid for.

404
00:22:14,433 --> 00:22:16,033
So there's been a lot
of talk about, well,

405
00:22:16,033 --> 00:22:18,633
a trillion-dollar price tag.

406
00:22:18,633 --> 00:22:22,303
What I've said is, if we're
going to spend that much money,

407
00:22:22,300 --> 00:22:27,200
then it's going to be largely
funded through reallocating

408
00:22:27,200 --> 00:22:30,000
dollars that are already in the
health care system but aren't

409
00:22:30,000 --> 00:22:31,400
being spent well.

410
00:22:31,400 --> 00:22:36,530
If we're spending $177 billion
over 10 years to subsidize

411
00:22:36,533 --> 00:22:41,103
insurance companies under
Medicare Advantage, when there's

412
00:22:41,100 --> 00:22:46,670
no showing that people are
healthier using that program

413
00:22:46,667 --> 00:22:48,897
than the regular Medicare
program, well, that's not a good

414
00:22:48,900 --> 00:22:50,370
deal for taxpayers.

415
00:22:50,367 --> 00:22:53,067
And we're going to take that
money and we're going to use it

416
00:22:53,066 --> 00:22:56,396
to provide better care
at a cheaper cost

417
00:22:56,400 --> 00:22:58,670
to the American people.

418
00:22:58,667 --> 00:23:00,737
So that's point number one.

419
00:23:00,734 --> 00:23:04,634
Number two, while we are in the
process of dealing with the cost

420
00:23:04,633 --> 00:23:12,003
issue, I think it's also wise
policy and the right thing to do

421
00:23:12,000 --> 00:23:15,270
to start providing coverage for
people who don't have health

422
00:23:15,266 --> 00:23:19,636
insurance or are underinsured,
are paying a lot of money

423
00:23:19,633 --> 00:23:20,963
for high deductibles.

424
00:23:20,967 --> 00:23:25,467
I get letters -- two, three
letters a day -- that I read of

425
00:23:25,467 --> 00:23:30,137
families who don't have health
insurance, are going bankrupt,

426
00:23:30,133 --> 00:23:33,863
are on the brink of losing their
insurance; have deductibles that

427
00:23:33,867 --> 00:23:36,037
are so high that even with
insurance they end up with

428
00:23:36,033 --> 00:23:39,263
$50,000, $100,000 worth of debt;
are at risk

429
00:23:39,266 --> 00:23:41,466
of losing their homes.

430
00:23:41,467 --> 00:23:45,967
And that has to be part of
reform, making sure that even if

431
00:23:45,967 --> 00:23:48,967
you've got health insurance now,
you are not worried that when

432
00:23:48,967 --> 00:23:51,497
you lose your job or your
employer decides to change

433
00:23:51,500 --> 00:23:55,000
policies that somehow you're
going to be out of luck.

434
00:23:55,000 --> 00:23:58,600
I think about the woman who was
in Wisconsin that I was with,

435
00:23:58,600 --> 00:24:02,430
who introduced me up in Green
Bay -- 36 years old, double

436
00:24:02,433 --> 00:24:07,963
mastectomy; breast cancer has
now moved to her bones and she's

437
00:24:07,967 --> 00:24:10,037
got two little kids,
a husband with a job.

438
00:24:10,033 --> 00:24:14,503
They had health insurance, but
they're still $50,000 in debt,

439
00:24:14,500 --> 00:24:17,770
and she's thinking, my main
legacy, if I don't survive this

440
00:24:17,767 --> 00:24:20,337
thing, is going to be leaving
$100,000 worth of debt.

441
00:24:20,333 --> 00:24:23,633
So those are the things
that I'm prioritizing.

442
00:24:23,633 --> 00:24:30,233
Now, the public plan I think
is a important tool

443
00:24:30,233 --> 00:24:34,133
to discipline
insurance companies.

444
00:24:34,133 --> 00:24:38,863
What we've said is, under our
proposal, let's have a system

445
00:24:38,867 --> 00:24:43,297
the same way that federal
employees do, same way that

446
00:24:43,300 --> 00:24:48,030
members of Congress do, where --
we call it an "exchange," or you

447
00:24:48,033 --> 00:24:50,303
can call it a "marketplace" --
where essentially you've got a

448
00:24:50,300 --> 00:24:53,030
whole bunch of different plans.

449
00:24:53,033 --> 00:24:57,163
If you like your plan and you
like your doctor, you won't have

450
00:24:57,166 --> 00:24:58,196
to do a thing.

451
00:24:58,200 --> 00:24:59,930
You keep your plan.
You keep your doctor.

452
00:24:59,934 --> 00:25:02,164
If your employer is providing
you good health insurance,

453
00:25:02,166 --> 00:25:04,896
terrific, we're not
going to mess with it.

454
00:25:04,900 --> 00:25:09,300
But if you're a small business
person, if the insurance that's

455
00:25:09,300 --> 00:25:13,430
being offered is something you
can't afford, if you want to

456
00:25:13,433 --> 00:25:16,633
shop for a better price, then
you can go to this exchange,

457
00:25:16,633 --> 00:25:21,163
this marketplace, and you can
look: Okay, this is how much

458
00:25:21,166 --> 00:25:23,136
this plan costs, this is how
much that plan costs, this is

459
00:25:23,133 --> 00:25:27,003
what the coverage is like, this
is what fits for my family.

460
00:25:27,000 --> 00:25:30,530
As one of those options, for
us to be able to say, here's a

461
00:25:30,533 --> 00:25:34,533
public option that's not
profit-driven, that can keep

462
00:25:34,533 --> 00:25:40,233
down administrative costs and
that provides you good, quality

463
00:25:40,233 --> 00:25:44,233
care for a reasonable price --
as one of the options for you to

464
00:25:44,233 --> 00:25:46,803
choose, I think
that makes sense.

465
00:25:46,800 --> 00:25:48,330
The Press:
Won't that drive private insurers 
out of business?

466
00:25:48,333 --> 00:25:50,133
The President:
Why would it
drive private insurers

467
00:25:50,133 --> 00:25:50,763
out of business?

468
00:25:50,767 --> 00:25:57,397
If private insurers say that the
marketplace provides the best

469
00:25:57,400 --> 00:26:02,130
quality health care, if they
tell us that they're offering a

470
00:26:02,133 --> 00:26:05,763
good deal, then why is it that
the government -- which they say

471
00:26:05,767 --> 00:26:08,297
can't run anything -- suddenly
is going to drive

472
00:26:08,300 --> 00:26:11,300
them out of business?
That's not logical.

473
00:26:11,300 --> 00:26:15,230
Now, I think that there's going
to be some healthy debates in

474
00:26:15,233 --> 00:26:18,363
Congress about the
shape that this takes.

475
00:26:18,367 --> 00:26:20,697
I think there can be some
legitimate concerns on the part

476
00:26:20,700 --> 00:26:25,800
of private insurers that if any
public plan is simply being

477
00:26:25,800 --> 00:26:30,600
subsidized by taxpayers
endlessly, that over time they

478
00:26:30,600 --> 00:26:34,400
can't compete with the
government just printing money.

479
00:26:34,400 --> 00:26:37,670
So there are going to be some I
think legitimate debates to be

480
00:26:37,667 --> 00:26:42,237
had about how this
private plan takes shape.

481
00:26:42,233 --> 00:26:45,433
But just conceptually, the
notion that all these insurance

482
00:26:45,433 --> 00:26:48,663
companies who say they're giving
consumers the best possible

483
00:26:48,667 --> 00:26:54,467
deal, that they can't compete
against a public plan as one

484
00:26:54,467 --> 00:26:57,067
option, with consumers making
the decision

485
00:26:57,066 --> 00:26:58,566
what's the best deal.

486
00:26:58,567 --> 00:27:02,367
That defies logic, which is
why I think you've seen in the

487
00:27:02,367 --> 00:27:06,567
polling data overwhelming
support for a public plan.

488
00:27:06,567 --> 00:27:07,297
All right?

489
00:27:07,300 --> 00:27:08,330
The Press:
Is th non-negotiable?

490
00:27:08,333 --> 00:27:09,733
The President:
Chip.

491
00:27:09,734 --> 00:27:11,634
The Press:
Thank you, Mr. President.

492
00:27:11,633 --> 00:27:16,533
Following up on Major's
question, some republicans on

493
00:27:16,533 --> 00:27:19,103
Capitol Hill -- John McCain and
Lindsey Graham, for example --

494
00:27:19,100 --> 00:27:23,470
have said that up to this point,
your response on Iran has been

495
00:27:23,467 --> 00:27:25,697
timid and weak.

496
00:27:25,700 --> 00:27:27,800
Today, it sounded
a lot stronger.

497
00:27:27,800 --> 00:27:29,770
It sounded like the kind of
speech John McCain has been

498
00:27:29,767 --> 00:27:33,397
urging you to give, saying that
those who stand up for justice

499
00:27:33,400 --> 00:27:36,270
are always on the right side of
history, referring to an iron

500
00:27:36,266 --> 00:27:39,496
fist in Iran -- "deplore,"
"appalled," "outraged.

501
00:27:39,500 --> 00:27:42,300
" Were you influenced at all by
John McCain and Lindsey Graham

502
00:27:42,300 --> 00:27:44,430
accusing you of
being timid and weak?

503
00:27:44,433 --> 00:27:45,203
The President:
What do you think?

504
00:27:45,200 --> 00:27:50,130
(laughter)

505
00:27:50,133 --> 00:27:56,263
Look, the -- I think
John McCain has genuine passion

506
00:27:56,266 --> 00:28:02,266
about many of these
international issues, and I

507
00:28:02,266 --> 00:28:08,766
think that all of us share a
belief that we want

508
00:28:08,767 --> 00:28:11,937
justice to prevail.

509
00:28:11,934 --> 00:28:15,304
But only I'm the President of
the United States, and I've got

510
00:28:15,300 --> 00:28:22,230
responsibilities in making
certain that we are continually

511
00:28:22,233 --> 00:28:28,203
advancing our national security
interests and that we are not

512
00:28:28,200 --> 00:28:33,670
used as a tool to be
exploited by other countries.

513
00:28:33,667 --> 00:28:36,167
I mean, you guys must
have seen the reports.

514
00:28:36,166 --> 00:28:39,236
They've got some of the
comments that I've made being

515
00:28:39,233 --> 00:28:45,463
mistranslated in Iran,
suggesting that I'm telling

516
00:28:45,467 --> 00:28:48,997
rioters to go out
and riot some more.

517
00:28:49,000 --> 00:28:54,070
There are reports suggesting
that the CIA is behind all this

518
00:28:54,066 --> 00:28:55,866
-- all of which
are patently false.

519
00:28:55,867 --> 00:29:00,397
But it gives you a sense of
the narrative that the Iranian

520
00:29:00,400 --> 00:29:05,030
government would
love to play into.

521
00:29:05,033 --> 00:29:11,133
So the -- members of Congress,
they've got their constitutional

522
00:29:11,133 --> 00:29:15,763
duties, and I'm sure they will
carry them out in the way that

523
00:29:15,767 --> 00:29:17,597
they think is appropriate.

524
00:29:17,600 --> 00:29:19,770
I'm President of the United
States, and I'll carry out my

525
00:29:19,767 --> 00:29:21,837
duties as I think
are appropriate.

526
00:29:21,834 --> 00:29:22,264
All right?

527
00:29:22,266 --> 00:29:23,796
The Press:
By speaking so
strongly today, aren't you

528
00:29:23,800 --> 00:29:25,970
giving the leadership in Iran
the fodder to make those

529
00:29:25,967 --> 00:29:27,837
arguments that it is
about the United States?

530
00:29:27,834 --> 00:29:30,834
The President:
Look, I mean, I
think that -- we can parse this

531
00:29:30,834 --> 00:29:32,364
as much as we want.

532
00:29:32,367 --> 00:29:35,367
I think if you look at the
statements that I've made,

533
00:29:35,367 --> 00:29:36,867
they've been very consistent.

534
00:29:36,867 --> 00:29:39,397
I just made a statement on
Saturday in which we said we

535
00:29:39,400 --> 00:29:41,600
deplore the violence.

536
00:29:41,600 --> 00:29:46,330
And so I think that in the
hothouse of Washington, there

537
00:29:46,333 --> 00:29:50,363
may be all kinds of stuff going
back and forth in terms of

538
00:29:50,367 --> 00:29:53,737
Republican critics versus
the administration.

539
00:29:53,734 --> 00:29:57,264
That's not what is relevant
to the Iranian people.

540
00:29:57,266 --> 00:29:59,366
What's relevant to them right
now is, are they going to have

541
00:29:59,367 --> 00:30:01,697
their voices heard?

542
00:30:01,700 --> 00:30:04,970
And, frankly, a lot of them
aren't paying a lot of attention

543
00:30:04,967 --> 00:30:08,267
to what's being said on Capitol
Hill, and probably aren't

544
00:30:08,266 --> 00:30:11,366
spending a lot of time thinking
about what's being said here.

545
00:30:11,367 --> 00:30:14,437
They're trying to figure out how
can they make sure justice is

546
00:30:14,433 --> 00:30:15,433
served in Iran.

547
00:30:15,433 --> 00:30:17,433
The Press:
So there's no
news in your statement today?

548
00:30:17,433 --> 00:30:19,263
The President:
Chuck Todd.

549
00:30:19,266 --> 00:30:20,636
The Press:
Mr. President, I
want to follow up on Iran.

550
00:30:20,633 --> 00:30:24,103
You have avoided twice
spelling out consequences.

551
00:30:24,100 --> 00:30:26,100
You've hinted that there would
be, from the international

552
00:30:26,100 --> 00:30:29,030
community, if they continue to
violate -- you said

553
00:30:29,033 --> 00:30:30,233
violate these norms.

554
00:30:30,233 --> 00:30:32,203
You seem to hint that there
are human rights

555
00:30:32,200 --> 00:30:34,200
violations taking place.

556
00:30:34,200 --> 00:30:35,130
The President:
I'm not hinting.

557
00:30:35,133 --> 00:30:39,433
I think that when a young woman
gets shot on the street when she

558
00:30:39,433 --> 00:30:41,363
gets out of her car,
that's a problem.

559
00:30:41,367 --> 00:30:44,167
The Press:
Then why won't you spell 
out the consequences that the Iranian --

560
00:30:44,166 --> 00:30:45,396
The President:
Because I think, Chuck, that we

561
00:30:45,400 --> 00:30:48,230
don't know yet how this
thing is going to play out.

562
00:30:48,233 --> 00:30:51,333
I know everybody here is
on a 24-hour news cycle.

563
00:30:51,333 --> 00:30:53,133
I'm not.

564
00:30:53,133 --> 00:30:55,203
The Press:
But shouldn't -- I mean, 
shouldn't the world and Iran --

565
00:30:55,200 --> 00:30:56,730
The President:
Chuck, I
answered --

566
00:30:56,734 --> 00:30:59,464
The Press:
-- but shouldn't the
Iranian regime know that

567
00:30:59,467 --> 00:31:00,267
there are consequences?

568
00:31:00,266 --> 00:31:01,836
The President:
I answered the
question, Chuck, which is that

569
00:31:01,834 --> 00:31:05,634
we don't yet know how this 
is going to play out. Jake Tapper.

570
00:31:05,633 --> 00:31:06,663
The Press:
Thank you, Mr. President.

571
00:31:06,667 --> 00:31:08,697
Before I ask my question, I'm
wondering if you could

572
00:31:08,700 --> 00:31:10,000
actually answer David's.

573
00:31:10,000 --> 00:31:12,030
Is the public plan
non-negotiable?

574
00:31:12,033 --> 00:31:13,803
The President:
That's your question.

575
00:31:13,800 --> 00:31:14,430
(laughter)

576
00:31:14,433 --> 00:31:15,303
The Press:
Well, you didn't answer --

577
00:31:15,300 --> 00:31:19,170
The President:
You think you're going to --
are you the ombudsman for the

578
00:31:19,166 --> 00:31:20,196
White House press corps?

579
00:31:20,200 --> 00:31:21,630
(laughter)

580
00:31:21,633 --> 00:31:22,563
What's your
-- is that your question?

581
00:31:22,567 --> 00:31:25,537
(laughter)

582
00:31:25,533 --> 00:31:26,303
The Press:
Then have a two-part question.

583
00:31:26,300 --> 00:31:29,800
(laughter)

584
00:31:29,800 --> 00:31:32,370
Is the public
plan non-negotiable?

585
00:31:32,367 --> 00:31:34,567
And while I appreciate your
Spock-like language about the

586
00:31:34,567 --> 00:31:38,097
logic of the health care plan,
the public plan, it does seem

587
00:31:38,100 --> 00:31:41,100
logical to a lot of people that
if the government is offering a

588
00:31:41,100 --> 00:31:46,470
cheaper health care plan, then
lots of employers will want to

589
00:31:46,467 --> 00:31:50,097
have their employees covered by
that cheaper plan, which will

590
00:31:50,100 --> 00:31:53,470
not have to be for profit,
unlike private plans, and may

591
00:31:53,467 --> 00:31:57,267
possibly benefit from some
government subsidies, who knows.

592
00:31:57,266 --> 00:32:00,896
And then their employees would
be signed up for this public

593
00:32:00,900 --> 00:32:03,070
plan, which would violate what
you're promising the American

594
00:32:03,066 --> 00:32:06,736
people, that they will not have
to change health care plans if

595
00:32:06,734 --> 00:32:07,834
they like the plan they have.

596
00:32:07,834 --> 00:32:09,634
The President:
I got you.

597
00:32:09,633 --> 00:32:14,733
You're pitching, I'm catching.
I got the question.

598
00:32:14,734 --> 00:32:16,864
First of all, was the
reference to Spock --

599
00:32:16,867 --> 00:32:18,767
is that a crack on my ears?

600
00:32:18,767 --> 00:32:20,797
(laughter)

601
00:32:20,800 --> 00:32:22,130
All right, I
just want to make sure.

602
00:32:22,133 --> 00:32:22,703
No?

603
00:32:22,700 --> 00:32:24,200
The Press:
I would never
make fun of your ears, sir.

604
00:32:24,200 --> 00:32:26,500
(laughter)

605
00:32:26,500 --> 00:32:27,600
The President:
In answer to David's question,

606
00:32:27,600 --> 00:32:34,800
which you co-opted, we are still
early in this process, so we

607
00:32:34,800 --> 00:32:39,630
have not drawn lines in the sand
other than that reform has to

608
00:32:39,633 --> 00:32:44,203
control costs and that it has
to provide relief to people who

609
00:32:44,200 --> 00:32:48,130
don't have health insurance
or are underinsured.

610
00:32:48,133 --> 00:32:52,903
Those are the broad parameters
that we've discussed.

611
00:32:52,900 --> 00:32:57,370
There are a whole host of other
issues where ultimately I may

612
00:32:57,367 --> 00:33:00,937
have a strong opinion, and I
will express those to members of

613
00:33:00,934 --> 00:33:03,604
Congress as this is shaping up. 
It's too early to say that.

614
00:33:03,600 --> 00:33:06,070
Right now I will say that our
position is that

615
00:33:06,066 --> 00:33:07,936
a public plan makes sense.

616
00:33:07,934 --> 00:33:13,764
Now, let me go to the broader
question you made

617
00:33:13,767 --> 00:33:15,597
about the public plan.

618
00:33:15,600 --> 00:33:22,130
As I said before, I think that
there is a legitimate concern if

619
00:33:22,133 --> 00:33:29,933
the public plan was simply
eating off the taxpayer trough,

620
00:33:29,934 --> 00:33:34,104
that it would be hard for
private insurers to complete.

621
00:33:34,100 --> 00:33:36,800
If, on the other hand, the
public plan is structured in

622
00:33:36,800 --> 00:33:41,030
such a way where they've got to
collect premiums and they've got

623
00:33:41,033 --> 00:33:46,563
to provide good services, then
if what the insurance companies

624
00:33:46,567 --> 00:33:50,267
are saying is true, that they're
doing their best to serve their

625
00:33:50,266 --> 00:33:55,396
customers, that they're in the
business of keeping people well

626
00:33:55,400 --> 00:33:58,800
and giving them security when
they get sick, they should be

627
00:33:58,800 --> 00:34:00,330
able to compete.

628
00:34:00,333 --> 00:34:04,603
Now, if it turns out that the
public plan, for example, is

629
00:34:04,600 --> 00:34:09,030
able to reduce administrative
costs significantly,

630
00:34:09,033 --> 00:34:10,763
then you know what?

631
00:34:10,767 --> 00:34:14,967
I'd like insurance companies to
take note and say, hey, if the

632
00:34:14,967 --> 00:34:17,697
public plan can do
that, why can't we?

633
00:34:17,700 --> 00:34:20,200
And that's good for
everybody in the system.

634
00:34:20,200 --> 00:34:23,970
And I don't think there should
be any objection to that.

635
00:34:23,967 --> 00:34:27,937
Now, by the way, I should point
out that part of the reform that

636
00:34:27,934 --> 00:34:32,334
we've suggested is that if you
want to be a private insurer as

637
00:34:32,333 --> 00:34:35,603
part of the exchange, as part of
this marketplace, this menu of

638
00:34:35,600 --> 00:34:38,700
options that people can choose
from, we're going to have some

639
00:34:38,700 --> 00:34:42,330
different rules for all
insurance companies -- one of

640
00:34:42,333 --> 00:34:48,203
them being that you can't
preclude people from getting

641
00:34:48,200 --> 00:34:51,530
health insurance because of a
pre-existing condition, you

642
00:34:51,533 --> 00:34:54,433
can't cherry pick and just
take the healthiest people.

643
00:34:54,433 --> 00:34:56,633
So there are going to be some
ground rules that are going to

644
00:34:56,633 --> 00:34:58,463
apply to all insurance
companies, because I think the

645
00:34:58,467 --> 00:35:02,767
American people understand that,
too often, insurance companies

646
00:35:02,767 --> 00:35:07,067
have been spending more time
thinking about how to take

647
00:35:07,066 --> 00:35:09,636
premiums and then avoid
providing people coverage than

648
00:35:09,633 --> 00:35:13,533
they have been thinking about
how can we make sure that

649
00:35:13,533 --> 00:35:17,503
insurance is there, health care
is there when families need it.

650
00:35:17,500 --> 00:35:25,000
But I'm confident that if -- I
take those advocates of the free

651
00:35:25,000 --> 00:35:29,470
market to heart when they
say that the free market is

652
00:35:29,467 --> 00:35:32,567
innovative and is going to
compete on service and is going

653
00:35:32,567 --> 00:35:38,037
to compete on their ability to
deliver good care to families.

654
00:35:38,033 --> 00:35:41,663
And if that's the case then this
just becomes one more option.

655
00:35:41,667 --> 00:35:46,297
If it's not the case then I
think that that's something that

656
00:35:46,300 --> 00:35:47,700
the American people should know.

657
00:35:47,700 --> 00:35:49,800
The Press:
I'm sorry, but what
about keeping your promise to

658
00:35:49,800 --> 00:35:54,570
the American people that they
won't have to change plans even
,00:35:51.633
plans even is employers --

659
00:35:51,633 --> 00:35:54,833
The President:
Well, no, no, I mean -- when I

660
00:35:54,834 --> 00:36:01,964
say if you have your plan and
you like it and your doctor has

661
00:36:01,967 --> 00:36:05,337
a plan, or you have a doctor and
you like your doctor that you

662
00:36:05,333 --> 00:36:08,903
don't have to change plans, what
I'm saying is the government is

663
00:36:08,900 --> 00:36:12,800
not going to make you change
plans under health reform.

664
00:36:12,800 --> 00:36:16,430
Now, are there going to be
employers right now -- assuming

665
00:36:16,433 --> 00:36:20,863
we don't do anything -- let's
say that we take the advice of

666
00:36:20,867 --> 00:36:24,567
some folks who are out there and
say, oh, this is not the time to

667
00:36:24,567 --> 00:36:27,297
do health care, we can't afford
it, it's too complicated, let's

668
00:36:27,300 --> 00:36:28,470
take our time, et cetera.

669
00:36:28,467 --> 00:36:32,167
So let's assume that
nothing happened.

670
00:36:32,166 --> 00:36:35,836
I can guarantee you that there's
a possibility for a whole lot of

671
00:36:35,834 --> 00:36:38,864
Americans out there that they're
not going to end up having the

672
00:36:38,867 --> 00:36:41,297
same health care they have,
because what's going to happen

673
00:36:41,300 --> 00:36:45,270
is, as costs keep on going up,
employers are going to start

674
00:36:45,266 --> 00:36:49,396
making decisions: We've got to
raise premiums on our employees;

675
00:36:49,400 --> 00:36:53,170
in some cases, we can't provide
health insurance at all.

676
00:36:53,166 --> 00:36:55,596
And so there are going to be a
whole set of changes out there.

677
00:36:55,600 --> 00:37:00,870
That's exactly why health
reform is so important.

678
00:37:00,867 --> 00:37:02,997
Margaret, from McClatchy.

679
00:37:03,000 --> 00:37:04,330
Where's Margaret? There you are.

680
00:37:04,333 --> 00:37:05,933
The Press:
Thank you, Mr. President.

681
00:37:05,934 --> 00:37:09,164
As a former smoker, I understand
the frustration and the fear

682
00:37:09,166 --> 00:37:10,936
that comes with quitting.

683
00:37:10,934 --> 00:37:13,534
But with the new law that you
signed yesterday regulating the

684
00:37:13,533 --> 00:37:16,563
tobacco industry, I'd like
to ask you a few questions.

685
00:37:16,567 --> 00:37:17,437
How many cigarettes a day --

686
00:37:17,433 --> 00:37:18,503
The President:
A few questions?

687
00:37:18,500 --> 00:37:20,230
(laughter)

688
00:37:20,233 --> 00:37:22,963
The Press:
How many cigarettes a day
do you now smoke?

689
00:37:22,967 --> 00:37:25,567
Do you smoke alone or in the
presence of other people?

690
00:37:25,567 --> 00:37:27,737
And do you believe the new
law would help you to quit?

691
00:37:27,734 --> 00:37:28,904
If so, why?

692
00:37:28,900 --> 00:37:34,130
The President:
Well, first of
all, the new law that was put in

693
00:37:34,133 --> 00:37:36,163
place is not about me, it's
about the next generation of

694
00:37:36,166 --> 00:37:37,636
kids coming up.

695
00:37:37,633 --> 00:37:41,563
So I think it's fair, Margaret,
to just say that you just think

696
00:37:41,567 --> 00:37:45,897
it's neat to ask me about my
smoking, as opposed to it being

697
00:37:45,900 --> 00:37:47,600
relevant to my new law.

698
00:37:47,600 --> 00:37:48,130
(laughter)

699
00:37:48,133 --> 00:37:49,103
But that's
fine, I understand.

700
00:37:49,100 --> 00:37:51,900
It's an interesting human --
it's an interesting

701
00:37:51,900 --> 00:37:53,270
human interest story.

702
00:37:53,266 --> 00:37:57,466
But I've said before that, as
a former smoker, I constantly

703
00:37:57,467 --> 00:37:59,337
struggle with it.

704
00:37:59,333 --> 00:38:03,063
Have I fallen off
the wagon sometimes? Yes.

705
00:38:03,066 --> 00:38:08,236
Am I a daily smoker,
a constant smoker? No.

706
00:38:08,233 --> 00:38:11,733
I don't do it in front of my
kids, I don't do it in front of

707
00:38:11,734 --> 00:38:19,534
my family, and I would say that
I am 95 percent cured,

708
00:38:19,533 --> 00:38:21,763
but there are times where --

709
00:38:21,767 --> 00:38:22,237
(laughter)

710
00:38:22,233 --> 00:38:23,603
-- there are times where
I mess up.

711
00:38:23,600 --> 00:38:25,730
And, I mean, I've
said this before.

712
00:38:25,734 --> 00:38:30,534
I get this question about once
every month or so, and I don't

713
00:38:30,533 --> 00:38:34,633
know what to tell you, other
than the fact that, like folks

714
00:38:34,633 --> 00:38:40,603
who go to AA, once you've gone
down this path, then it's

715
00:38:40,600 --> 00:38:42,530
something you continually
struggle with, which is

716
00:38:42,533 --> 00:38:47,263
precisely why the legislation we
signed was so important, because

717
00:38:47,266 --> 00:38:49,936
what we don't want is
kids going down that path

718
00:38:49,934 --> 00:38:54,104
in the first place. Okay?

719
00:38:54,100 --> 00:38:57,400
Macarena Vidal?

720
00:38:57,400 --> 00:39:00,500
The Press:
Mr. President, you're
meeting today with Chilean

721
00:39:00,500 --> 00:39:02,030
President Michelle Bachelet.

722
00:39:02,033 --> 00:39:06,303
You're meeting next week with
Alvaro Uribe from Colombia.

723
00:39:06,300 --> 00:39:10,430
Two months ago in Trinidad at
the Summit of the Americas, you

724
00:39:10,433 --> 00:39:15,863
said that -- you called on Latin
American countries to help you

725
00:39:15,867 --> 00:39:19,637
with deeds, not words,
particularly towards

726
00:39:19,633 --> 00:39:22,333
less democratic countries.

727
00:39:22,333 --> 00:39:27,433
Have you noticed any particular
progress in these two months,

728
00:39:27,433 --> 00:39:30,463
and can you give us examples?

729
00:39:30,467 --> 00:39:32,537
The President:
Well, first of
all, I'm very much looking

730
00:39:32,533 --> 00:39:34,203
forward to seeing
President Bachelet.

731
00:39:34,200 --> 00:39:38,000
I think she's one of the finest
leaders in Latin America,

732
00:39:38,000 --> 00:39:41,070
a very capable person.

733
00:39:41,066 --> 00:39:44,966
If you look at how Chile has
handled the recession, they've

734
00:39:44,967 --> 00:39:49,237
handled it very well in part
because the surpluses that they

735
00:39:49,233 --> 00:39:53,833
got when copper prices
were high they set aside.

736
00:39:53,834 --> 00:40:02,034
And so they had the resources
to deal with the downturn.

737
00:40:02,033 --> 00:40:04,303
It's a good lesson
for the United States.

738
00:40:04,300 --> 00:40:10,000
When we had surpluses,
they got dissipated.

739
00:40:10,000 --> 00:40:13,270
We think that there's enormous
possibilities of making progress

740
00:40:13,266 --> 00:40:15,466
in Latin America generally.

741
00:40:15,467 --> 00:40:19,137
One of the things that I'll be
talking about with President

742
00:40:19,133 --> 00:40:24,663
Bachelet is the coordination and
cooperation between the

743
00:40:24,667 --> 00:40:28,937
United States and Chile
on clean energy.

744
00:40:28,934 --> 00:40:32,704
We'll have an announcement when
we do our press conference after

745
00:40:32,700 --> 00:40:35,430
my bilateral meeting
on some important

746
00:40:35,433 --> 00:40:37,333
clean energy partnerships.

747
00:40:37,333 --> 00:40:41,803
We're making important progress
when it comes to exchanges

748
00:40:41,800 --> 00:40:44,000
on cancer research.

749
00:40:44,000 --> 00:40:50,170
We continue to have a robust
trade regime with Chile.

750
00:40:50,166 --> 00:40:52,536
And, by the way, Chile has
actually entered into some very

751
00:40:52,533 --> 00:40:54,903
interesting partnerships
not just with the federal

752
00:40:54,900 --> 00:40:59,070
government, but also with state
governments like California.

753
00:40:59,066 --> 00:41:03,196
So I think the relationship that
we have with Chile -- which, by

754
00:41:03,200 --> 00:41:11,570
the way, does not
fall in line with

755
00:41:11,567 --> 00:41:14,637
U. S. foreign policy on every
single issue -- but it's a

756
00:41:14,633 --> 00:41:17,133
a respectful policy.

757
00:41:17,133 --> 00:41:18,963
Chile is an important partner.

758
00:41:18,967 --> 00:41:23,737
I think that's the model
that we want: partnership.

759
00:41:23,734 --> 00:41:27,064
The United States doesn't
dictate how Chile should view

760
00:41:27,066 --> 00:41:30,736
its own interests,
but in fact we've

761
00:41:30,734 --> 00:41:32,804
achieved great cooperation.

762
00:41:32,800 --> 00:41:35,900
And I will be looking at
President Bachelet giving us

763
00:41:35,900 --> 00:41:39,200
further advice in terms of
how we can take the kind of

764
00:41:39,200 --> 00:41:43,070
relationship we have with
Chile and expand that to our

765
00:41:43,066 --> 00:41:47,136
relationships throughout
Latin America.

766
00:41:47,133 --> 00:41:50,433
The Press:
But my question is
not only about that -- Chile,

767
00:41:50,433 --> 00:41:56,863
but about Latin American
countries giving you a hand on

768
00:41:56,867 --> 00:41:59,967
-- against less
democratic countries.

769
00:41:59,967 --> 00:42:02,637
The President:
Well, the point
is, is that I think Chile is

770
00:42:02,633 --> 00:42:03,763
leading by example.

771
00:42:03,767 --> 00:42:05,067
So I'm using Chile
as an example.

772
00:42:05,066 --> 00:42:07,766
But the same is true
in Brazil, for example.

773
00:42:07,767 --> 00:42:11,797
I mean, President Lula came in,
and he's got a very different

774
00:42:11,800 --> 00:42:18,330
political orientation
than most Americans do.

775
00:42:18,333 --> 00:42:21,933
He came up through the
trade union movement.

776
00:42:21,934 --> 00:42:25,134
He was perceived as
a strong leftist.

777
00:42:25,133 --> 00:42:29,533
It turns out that he was a very
practical person, who although

778
00:42:29,533 --> 00:42:33,163
maintains relationships across
the political spectrum

779
00:42:33,166 --> 00:42:36,896
in Latin America,
has instituted all sorts

780
00:42:36,900 --> 00:42:41,930
of smart market reforms that
have made Brazil prosper.

781
00:42:41,934 --> 00:42:47,304
And so if you take a Bachelet or
a Lula, and the United States

782
00:42:47,300 --> 00:42:51,230
has a good working relationship
with them, then I think that

783
00:42:51,233 --> 00:42:57,463
points the way for other
countries that may be where the

784
00:42:57,467 --> 00:43:00,997
democratic tradition is not as
deeply embedded as we'd

785
00:43:01,000 --> 00:43:02,730
like it to be.

786
00:43:02,734 --> 00:43:06,764
And we can make common cause in
showing those countries that, in

787
00:43:06,767 --> 00:43:11,537
fact, democracy, respect for
property rights, respects for

788
00:43:11,533 --> 00:43:18,863
market-based economies, rule of
law -- that all those things can

789
00:43:18,867 --> 00:43:21,797
in fact lead to greater
prosperity, that that's not just

790
00:43:21,800 --> 00:43:26,330
a U. S. agenda, but that's
a smart way to

791
00:43:26,333 --> 00:43:29,703
increase the prosperity 
of your own people.

792
00:43:29,700 --> 00:43:32,170
Okay, Hans Nichols.
Hans.

793
00:43:32,166 --> 00:43:34,336
The Press:
Thank you, Mr. President.

794
00:43:34,333 --> 00:43:36,403
If I can just return to the
economy more generally.

795
00:43:36,400 --> 00:43:38,530
When you were selling the
economic stimulus package, you

796
00:43:38,533 --> 00:43:41,363
talked and your advisors and
economists talked about keeping

797
00:43:41,367 --> 00:43:43,667
unemployment below 8 percent.

798
00:43:43,667 --> 00:43:46,737
Last week you acknowledged that
unemployment is likely to reach

799
00:43:46,734 --> 00:43:48,734
double digits, being 10 percent.

800
00:43:48,734 --> 00:43:51,934
Do you think you need a
second stimulus package?

801
00:43:51,934 --> 00:43:54,334
The President:.
Well, not yet, because I
think it's important

802
00:43:54,333 --> 00:44:00,533
to see how the economy evolves
and how effective

803
00:44:00,533 --> 00:44:02,163
the first stimulus is.

804
00:44:02,166 --> 00:44:05,936
I think it's fair to say that
-- keep in mind the stimulus

805
00:44:05,934 --> 00:44:09,934
package was the first thing we
did, and we did it a couple of

806
00:44:09,934 --> 00:44:11,734
weeks after inauguration.

807
00:44:11,734 --> 00:44:17,634
At that point nobody understood
what the depths of this

808
00:44:17,633 --> 00:44:19,033
recession were
going to look like.

809
00:44:19,033 --> 00:44:24,103
If you recall, it was only
significantly later that we

810
00:44:24,100 --> 00:44:30,830
suddenly get a report that
the economy had tanked.

811
00:44:30,834 --> 00:44:36,134
And so it's not surprising then
that we missed the mark in terms

812
00:44:36,133 --> 00:44:39,003
of our estimates of where
unemployment would go.

813
00:44:39,000 --> 00:44:41,370
I think it's pretty clear now
that unemployment will end up

814
00:44:41,367 --> 00:44:44,867
going over 10 percent, if you
just look at the pattern,

815
00:44:44,867 --> 00:44:50,497
because of the fact that even
after employers and businesses

816
00:44:50,500 --> 00:44:55,330
start investing again and start
hiring again, typically it takes

817
00:44:55,333 --> 00:45:00,403
a while for that employment
number to catch up

818
00:45:00,400 --> 00:45:01,830
with economic recovery.

819
00:45:01,834 --> 00:45:04,964
And we're still not at
actual recovery yet.

820
00:45:04,967 --> 00:45:10,297
So I anticipate that this is
going to be a difficult --

821
00:45:10,300 --> 00:45:12,130
difficult year, a
difficult period.

822
00:45:12,133 --> 00:45:14,363
The Press:
What's the high water
mark, then, for unemployment?

823
00:45:14,367 --> 00:45:15,537
Eleven percent?

824
00:45:15,533 --> 00:45:16,733
The President:
Well, I'm not suggesting 
that I have a crystal ball.

825
00:45:16,734 --> 00:45:22,364
Since you just threw back at us
our last prognosis, let's not --

826
00:45:22,367 --> 00:45:26,467
let's not engage in another one.

827
00:45:26,467 --> 00:45:27,197
The Press:
Does that mean
you won't be

828
00:45:27,200 --> 00:45:28,800
making predictions ever?

829
00:45:28,800 --> 00:45:30,070
(laughter)

830
00:45:30,066 --> 00:45:33,666
The President:
But what I am saying is that --

831
00:45:33,667 --> 00:45:36,137
here are some things I
know for certain.

832
00:45:36,133 --> 00:45:39,903
In the absence of the stimulus,
I think our recession

833
00:45:39,900 --> 00:45:41,970
would be much worse.

834
00:45:41,967 --> 00:45:44,797
It would have declined --
without the Recovery Act -- we

835
00:45:44,800 --> 00:45:48,870
know for a fact that states, for
example, would have laid off a

836
00:45:48,867 --> 00:45:51,567
lot more teachers, a lot more
police officers, a lot more

837
00:45:51,567 --> 00:45:55,037
firefighters, every single
one of those individuals

838
00:45:55,033 --> 00:45:57,663
whose jobs were saved.

839
00:45:57,667 --> 00:46:01,337
As a consequence, they are still
making their mortgage payments,

840
00:46:01,333 --> 00:46:03,033
they are still shopping.

841
00:46:03,033 --> 00:46:06,963
So we know that the Recovery
Act has had an impact.

842
00:46:06,967 --> 00:46:11,367
Now, what we also know is this
was the worst recession since

843
00:46:11,367 --> 00:46:15,937
the Great Depression, and people
are going through a very tough

844
00:46:15,934 --> 00:46:17,264
time right now.

845
00:46:17,266 --> 00:46:19,566
And I don't expect
them to be satisfied.

846
00:46:19,567 --> 00:46:26,297
I mean, one thing that -- as I
sometimes glance at the various

847
00:46:26,300 --> 00:46:31,000
news outlets represented here,
I know that they're sometimes

848
00:46:31,000 --> 00:46:34,170
reporting of, oh, the
administration is worried about

849
00:46:34,166 --> 00:46:38,666
this, or their poll numbers are
going down there -- look, the

850
00:46:38,667 --> 00:46:40,967
American people have a right
to feel like this is

851
00:46:40,967 --> 00:46:42,837
a tough time right now.

852
00:46:42,834 --> 00:46:46,264
What's incredible to me is how
resilient the American people

853
00:46:46,266 --> 00:46:56,136
have been and how they are still
more optimistic than the facts

854
00:46:56,133 --> 00:47:00,163
alone would justify, because
this is a tough, tough period.

855
00:47:00,166 --> 00:47:03,696
And I don't feel satisfied with
the progress that we've made.

856
00:47:03,700 --> 00:47:07,670
We've got to get our Recovery
Act money out faster.

857
00:47:07,667 --> 00:47:11,697
We've got to make sure that the
programs that we've put in place

858
00:47:11,700 --> 00:47:14,230
are working the way
they're supposed to.

859
00:47:14,233 --> 00:47:18,203
I think, for example, our
mortgage program has actually

860
00:47:18,200 --> 00:47:21,430
helped to modify mortgages for
a lot of people, but it hasn't

861
00:47:21,433 --> 00:47:23,803
been keeping pace with
all the foreclosures

862
00:47:23,800 --> 00:47:24,930
that are taking place.

863
00:47:24,934 --> 00:47:27,664
I get letters every day from
people who say, you know, I

864
00:47:27,667 --> 00:47:30,197
appreciate that you put out this
mortgage program, but the bank

865
00:47:30,200 --> 00:47:33,170
is still not letting me modify
my mortgage and I'm about to

866
00:47:33,166 --> 00:47:34,666
lose my home.

867
00:47:34,667 --> 00:47:37,537
And then I've got to call my
staff and team and find out why

868
00:47:37,533 --> 00:47:40,033
isn't it working for these
folks, and can we adjust it, can

869
00:47:40,033 --> 00:47:44,233
we tweak it, can we
make it more aggressive?

870
00:47:44,233 --> 00:47:47,103
This is a very, very
difficult process.

871
00:47:47,100 --> 00:47:49,730
And what I've got to do is to
make sure that we're focused

872
00:47:49,734 --> 00:47:52,604
both on the short term, how can
we provide families immediate

873
00:47:52,600 --> 00:47:57,470
relief and jumpstart the economy
as quickly as possible; and I've

874
00:47:57,467 --> 00:48:00,937
got to keep my eye on the long
term, and the long term is

875
00:48:00,934 --> 00:48:03,964
making sure that by reforming
our health care system, by

876
00:48:03,967 --> 00:48:07,367
passing serious energy
legislation that makes us a

877
00:48:07,367 --> 00:48:10,697
clean energy economy, by
revamping our education system,

878
00:48:10,700 --> 00:48:14,930
by finally getting the financial
regulatory reforms in place that

879
00:48:14,934 --> 00:48:17,764
are necessary for the 21st
century -- by doing all those

880
00:48:17,767 --> 00:48:21,467
things, we've got a foundation
for long-term economic growth,

881
00:48:21,467 --> 00:48:24,767
and we don't end up having
to juice up the economy

882
00:48:24,767 --> 00:48:29,767
artificially through the kinds
of bubble strategies that helped

883
00:48:29,767 --> 00:48:33,167
to get us in the situation
that we're in today.

884
00:48:33,166 --> 00:48:34,896
Okay. I've got time for
two more questions.

885
00:48:34,900 --> 00:48:36,030
April. Where's April?

886
00:48:36,033 --> 00:48:36,533
The Press:
Right here.

887
00:48:36,533 --> 00:48:37,403
(laughter)

888
00:48:37,400 --> 00:48:38,230
The President:
There you are.

889
00:48:38,233 --> 00:48:38,903
How are you?

890
00:48:38,900 --> 00:48:40,730
The Press:
I'm fine.

891
00:48:40,734 --> 00:48:44,804
Back on the economy, Mr.
President, people are

892
00:48:44,800 --> 00:48:47,200
criticizing this road
to recovery plan.

893
00:48:47,200 --> 00:48:51,670
Specifically, there are reports
in The Washington Post that say

894
00:48:51,667 --> 00:48:54,237
that the African America
unemployment rate will go to 20

895
00:48:54,233 --> 00:48:57,433
percent by the end of this year.

896
00:48:57,433 --> 00:49:00,663
And then you had your Chairman
of Economic Advisers say the

897
00:49:00,667 --> 00:49:04,637
target intervention may come
next year if nothing changes.

898
00:49:04,633 --> 00:49:08,403
Why not target intervention now
to stop the bloodletting in the

899
00:49:08,400 --> 00:49:09,730
black unemployment rate?

900
00:49:09,734 --> 00:49:16,464
The President:
Look, first of all, we know
that the African American

901
00:49:16,467 --> 00:49:18,937
unemployment rate, the
Latino unemployment rate, are

902
00:49:18,934 --> 00:49:24,034
consistently higher than
the national average.

903
00:49:24,033 --> 00:49:29,833
And so, if the economy as a
whole is doing poorly, then you

904
00:49:29,834 --> 00:49:32,034
know that the African American
community is going to be doing

905
00:49:32,033 --> 00:49:35,233
poorly, and they're going
to be hit even harder.

906
00:49:35,233 --> 00:49:39,503
And the best thing that I can
do for the African American

907
00:49:39,500 --> 00:49:42,170
community or the Latino
community or the Asian

908
00:49:42,166 --> 00:49:44,136
community, whatever community,
is to get the economy

909
00:49:44,133 --> 00:49:45,903
as a whole moving.

910
00:49:45,900 --> 00:49:48,630
If I don't -- hold on one
second, let me answer the

911
00:49:48,633 --> 00:49:52,363
question -- if I don't do that,
then I'm not going to be

912
00:49:52,367 --> 00:49:56,497
able to help anybody. 
So that's priority number one.

913
00:49:56,500 --> 00:50:01,670
It is true that in certain
inner-city communities, the

914
00:50:01,667 --> 00:50:04,197
unemployment rate is -- was
already sky high even

915
00:50:04,200 --> 00:50:06,200
before this recession.

916
00:50:06,200 --> 00:50:11,130
The ladders available for people
to enter into the job market

917
00:50:11,133 --> 00:50:13,203
are even worse.

918
00:50:13,200 --> 00:50:17,170
And so we are interested in
looking at proven programs that

919
00:50:17,166 --> 00:50:19,796
help people on a
pathway to jobs.

920
00:50:19,800 --> 00:50:23,570
There was a reason why right
before Father's Day I went to a

921
00:50:23,567 --> 00:50:26,297
program here locally in
Washington called Year Up, which

922
00:50:26,300 --> 00:50:33,500
has a proven track record of
taking young, mostly minority

923
00:50:33,500 --> 00:50:36,370
people, some of whom have
graduated from high school, some

924
00:50:36,367 --> 00:50:41,597
maybe who've just gotten their
GED, and trained them on

925
00:50:41,600 --> 00:50:45,670
computers and provide them other
technical skills, but also train

926
00:50:45,667 --> 00:50:50,597
them on how to carry themselves
in an office, how to write an

927
00:50:50,600 --> 00:50:56,700
e-mail -- some of the social
skills that will allow them to

928
00:50:56,700 --> 00:50:58,770
be more employable.

929
00:50:58,767 --> 00:51:01,167
They've got a terrific
placement rate after

930
00:51:01,166 --> 00:51:02,596
this one-year program.

931
00:51:02,600 --> 00:51:05,900
If there are ways that we can
potentially duplicate some of

932
00:51:05,900 --> 00:51:08,230
those programs, then
we're going to do so.

933
00:51:08,233 --> 00:51:12,163
So part of what we want to do
is to find tools that will give

934
00:51:12,166 --> 00:51:15,936
people more opportunity, but the
most important thing I can do is

935
00:51:15,934 --> 00:51:17,964
to lift the economy overall.

936
00:51:17,967 --> 00:51:21,237
And that's what my
strategy is focused on.

937
00:51:21,233 --> 00:51:23,733
All right. Last question. Suzanne.

938
00:51:23,734 --> 00:51:25,504
The Press:
Thank you.

939
00:51:25,500 --> 00:51:28,570
Back to Iran, putting
a human face on this.

940
00:51:28,567 --> 00:51:30,667
Over the weekend, we saw a
shocking video of this woman,

941
00:51:30,667 --> 00:51:35,267
Neda, who had been shot in
the chest and bled to death.

942
00:51:35,266 --> 00:51:37,066
Have you seen this video?

943
00:51:37,066 --> 00:51:38,036
The President:
I have.

944
00:51:38,033 --> 00:51:39,033
The Press:
What's your reaction?

945
00:51:39,033 --> 00:51:42,133
The President:
It's heartbreaking.

946
00:51:42,133 --> 00:51:45,463
It's heartbreaking.

947
00:51:45,467 --> 00:51:49,167
And I think that anybody who
sees it knows that there's

948
00:51:49,166 --> 00:51:52,696
something fundamentally
unjust about that.

949
00:51:52,700 --> 00:51:54,730
The Press:
We also have people
on the ground who have been

950
00:51:54,734 --> 00:51:58,004
saying that the streets are
quieter now and that is because

951
00:51:58,000 --> 00:52:01,530
they feel that they're paralyzed
by fear -- fear of people gone

952
00:52:01,533 --> 00:52:04,963
missing, fear of violence, that
perhaps this is a movement

953
00:52:04,967 --> 00:52:07,737
that's gone underground
or perhaps is dying.

954
00:52:07,734 --> 00:52:10,464
Do you have any
concern over that?

955
00:52:10,467 --> 00:52:20,197
The President:
Yes. I have concern about 
how peaceful demonstrators and

956
00:52:20,200 --> 00:52:24,800
people who want their votes
counted may be stifled from

957
00:52:24,800 --> 00:52:27,000
expressing those concerns.

958
00:52:27,000 --> 00:52:31,700
I think, as I said before, there
are certain international norms

959
00:52:31,700 --> 00:52:34,700
of freedom of speech,
freedom of expression --

960
00:52:34,700 --> 00:52:37,830
The Press:
Then why won't you
allow the photos --

961
00:52:37,834 --> 00:52:40,964
The President:
Hold on a second, Helen.

962
00:52:40,967 --> 00:52:41,737
That's a different question.

963
00:52:41,734 --> 00:52:46,804
(laughter)

964
00:52:46,800 --> 00:52:50,200
And I think it's
important for us to make sure

965
00:52:50,200 --> 00:52:58,170
that we let the Iranian people
know that we are watching what's

966
00:52:58,166 --> 00:53:00,896
happening, that they are
not alone in this process.

967
00:53:00,900 --> 00:53:03,430
Ultimately, though, what's going
to be most important is what

968
00:53:03,433 --> 00:53:05,463
happens in Iran.

969
00:53:05,467 --> 00:53:13,367
And we've all been struck
by the courage of people.

970
00:53:13,367 --> 00:53:16,537
And I mentioned this I think in
a statement that I made a couple

971
00:53:16,533 --> 00:53:18,263
of days ago.

972
00:53:18,266 --> 00:53:21,436
Some of you who had been
covering my campaigns know this

973
00:53:21,433 --> 00:53:23,733
is one of my favorite
expressions, was Dr. King's

974
00:53:23,734 --> 00:53:26,804
expression that "the arc of the
moral universe is long, but it

975
00:53:26,800 --> 00:53:28,270
bends towards justice."

976
00:53:28,266 --> 00:53:32,966
We have to believe that
ultimately justice will prevail.

977
00:53:32,967 --> 00:53:33,567
All right.

978
00:53:33,567 --> 00:53:34,337
Thank you guys.